Welcome to the official website of the Gam-Anon® International Service Office, Inc., serving the community of international meetings of the Gam-Anon Family Groups. Gam-Anon has created this website to provide information for the general public and professional community about problem (compulsive) gambling and its financial and emotional affects on the gamblers' families and loved ones.

For the Media/PSA

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

Gam-Anon offers hope and help when a loved one has a gambling problem. Living with the effects of someone else’s gambling problem is too devastating for most people to bear without help. Financial problems are common, and loved ones often feel alone, frightened, desperate and ashamed about the problem in their family.

Gam-Anon is an anonymous fellowship that offers self-help recovery for anyone whose life has been affected by someone with a gambling problem. In Gam-Anon, family and friends learn effective ways of coping whether or not the gambler seeks help or even recognizes the existence of a gambling problem.

There are no dues or fees. Information about where to find help, including a national meeting list, can be found at www.gam-anon.org . Gam-Anon supports family members and friends in finding answers to such questions as:

Am I living with a compulsive gambler? Visit www.gam-anon.org/living.htm for a list of 20 questions that address this question.

What is my role as the spouse, parent, or loved one of a compulsive gambler?

How can I be of the greatest help to the person who joins Gamblers Anonymous?

Or, if my gambler continues to gamble, how can I live with this problem?

How can I deal with my anger, fear and resentment?

Will I ever be able to trust the gambler again?

In Gam-Anon the member will experience relief from anxiety by accepting the fact of powerlessness over the problem in the family. The heavy load of responsibility for the gambling problem is lifted and the guilt in regard to failures is gradually alleviated. The energy wasted in attempts to stop loved ones from gambling can be channeled into more useful methods of problem solving.

Local hotline phone numbers and meeting lists are available at www.gam-anon.org .

Those seeking more information can also contact the Gam-Anon International Service Office at (718) 352-1671.

INFORMATION FOR THE MEDIA

Gam-Anon welcomes the opportunity to inform the general public about the Gam-Anon program. Our members who agree to be interviewed or to speak before a group about the Gam-Anon program and how the gambling problem has affected their lives are also representing Gam-Anon and will follow these Gam-Anon guidelines.

Gam-Anon follows the tradition of protecting the anonymity of our members. Members who choose to speak to groups in person do not give identifying information such as full name, where they live or work. Members who agree to be interviewed on television will be shown in shadow and may ask that voices be disguised.

Members who are interviewed on radio may ask that voices be disguised. Members who are interviewed for the print media will not permit a picture to be taken. As Gam-Anon has no opinion on legal or illegal gambling, politics, religion, or the medical definitions of gambling and treatment of gambling, we request that those questions are not asked.

If asked, our members will respond with the statement that Gam-Anon has no opinion.

Requests for information about Gam-Anon, interviews or speakers are directed to the Gam-Anon International Service Office Inc. at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 718-352-1671.

For Mental Health Professionals

While Gam-Anon has no affiliation with any professional group and does not endorse any professional group, we do welcome the professional community to inquire about the Gam-Anon program.

Our literature shares much of our experience and we especially recommend the following:

Games Compulsive Gamblers and We Play

The Gam-Anon Way of Life

Information for the Newcomer

Demonstration Meeting with questions and answers ( audio CD )

Is There a Gambling Problem in Your Family? is free and can be duplicated for distribution in your office and for professional group meetings.

Gam-Anon Can Help is free and can be duplicated for distribution in your office and for professional group meetings.

Gam-Anon meetings are led by our members. We don't employ professional counselors. We recognize that for many members, personal emotional growth and repair of relationships require more than the peer group support and experience offered in our meetings and literature. Professional treatment is a welcomed resource for these members.

To purchase literature, receive our free pamphlets, or ask questions about Gam-Anon, please contact the International Service Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 718-352-1671. To request a speaker for a professional group, please see the information for the media on this site.